Jump to content

Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/245

From Wikisource
This page needs to be proofread.

178 Devon Notes aud Queries. has been reprinted in many forms by itself as well with other similar works. The portrait, as seen in the accompanying illustration, is totally unlike any other, whether painted or engraved, and had it not been for the subjoined metrical lines, doubts of its authenticity might have arisen. The face and the hair rolled back seem to denote they were copied from the 161 7 engraving ; but the comparatively plain doublet, and the loose coat, edged with fur, rather resemble the costume of a civilian. T. N. Brushfield, m.d. 138. King Alfred and Devonshire (II., p. 4, par. 3; p. 114, par., 80; p. 147, par, 3.) — The identification of Southsworth with Lustleigh was merely a suggestion and is admitted to be doubtful, but it appeared, and still appears to me to be more likely than either Sidbury or Southwood. The claims of Sidbury do not require much consideration, because it occurs in the same grant as Southwood, it breaks the topographical order, and its name can hardly be a development of Sudeswyrde. The choice, therefore, lies between Southwood and Lustleigh. On one side, Southwood is of no importance, being only a fiarm within the manor of Dawlish, whereas all the other names in Alfred's will represent important places. It was not recognized as a separate estate in Domesday Book, and it is not even certain that it represents the Supwnda of Leofric's grant. It is not likely that the name Sudeswyrtte would have changed to Southwood, and, even if it had so changed, it would be improbable to find a * worthy' in the south so far from Dartmoor, for, as I pointed out in my previous note, the * worthies' are to be found mainly in the north-west and in the neighbourhood of Dartmoor, where the English were most likely to come into conflict with their Cornish neighbours. On the other side, assuming Mr. Whale's identification to be correct, Lustleigh is the only Southworth in Domesday Book, being written Sutrsuuorda in the Exon copy, and Svtreworde in the Exchequer copy (Mr. Reichel's curious spelling is pre- sumably a misprint). It was a fairly important manor, it is in the region of the 'worthies,' and the name is a legitimate development of that in Alfred's will. There is also one remarkable fact in the Domesday entries, for.